Mountain Creek Baptist Church destroyed

Members of Mountain Creek Baptist Church held a short service in the church's parking lot the morning after a fire destroyed the 165-year-old church building on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009.

Lt. Craig Merk with the Center Rock Fire Department pulls a hymnal out of the debris in the sanctuary of Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday. A fire destroyed the 165-year-old church building Monday night.

Pastor Ray Thompson leads a short service for church members in the parking lot of Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday morning. The service included a prayer, the singing of "Amazing Grace", and a promise from Thompson to rebuild the church after a fire destroyed it Monday night.

Church members place thier hands on one of seveal Bibles pulled from the debris in the sanctuary of the Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday morning. A fire destoryed the 165-year-old church building Monday night.

SLED agents investigate the cause of a fire that destroyed Mountain Creek Baptist Church Monday night. Officials believe that a heating and air conditioning unit in the building's attic was the source of the fire.

Pastor Ray Thompson comforts Barbara Shaw in the parking lot of the Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday morning after a fire destroyed the church building Monday night.

Anderson County Fire Chief Billy Gibson bows his head in prayer during a brief service held by members of the Mountain Creek Baptist Church in the church's parking lot Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church Monday on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Members of Mountain Creek Baptist Church sing "Amazing Grace" in the church's parking lot Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Savannah Johnson, Wayne Campbell and Beverly Johnson salvage papers from furniture saved from the Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Pastor Ray Thompson gives Sherry Phagan her husband's Bible which was pulled from the sanctuary of Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Sherry Phagan looks at the Mountain Creek Baptist Church while holding her husband's Bible which was pulled from the building Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

An Anderson County firefighter looks through a stack of Bibles pulled from Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Pastor Ray Thompson walks towards Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Members of Mountain Creek Baptist Church cry during a short service in the church's parking lot Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Archie Bailey, a member of Mountain Creek Baptist Church for 59 years, says a prayer during a service in the church's parking lot Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Anderson County firefighters stand in the doorway of Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Pastor Ray Thompson carries a Bible from the sanctuary of Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

Lt. Craig Merk with the Center Rock Fire Department pulls a hymnal from the debris inside Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

The outline of a cross that hung in the sanctuary of Mountain Creek Baptist Church remains after the building was destroyed in a fire. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

The facade of Mountain Creek Baptist Church was damaged in a fire. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

A charred page from a hymnal lies in the mud outside of Mountain Creek Baptist Church Tuesday. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.

A church bulletin bares tread marks outside of Mountain Creek Baptist Church. Officials are blaming a fire that destroyed the 165-year-old church on a heating and air conditioning unit in the church's attic.